Amusement device



Dec. 4 1923.

V. V. VAN NATTAN ET AL AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed April 13 1922 152 V6]? 6 ans.

Paris ing drawings, the invention is illustrated in' Patented Dec. 4, 1923. V

V onrrso I r F IE. I

'VERLE v. VAN NATTAN' ND JAMES M. rears, or sAn rnnncrscdcamronnm,

- AMUSEMENT nnvron.

Application flled April 13, 1922. Serial No. 552,218.

T 0 all "whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, VERLE TAN and JAMES M. PARIS, citizens of the United States, and residents of thecity and county of San Francisco, State of California, have made a new and useful invention. to wit: Improvements in Amusement Devices; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, concise, and exact description of the same.

This invention relates particularly to an amusement device in the form of a top, having anapparatus therein operated by the spinning 0r rotative movement of said device.

An object of the invention is to provide an amusement device of a form so constructed and arranged that any number of well known games may be played therewith.

A further object of the invention is to provide an amusement device which will be superior in point of simplicityiand inexpensiveness of construction. Other objects'and advantages will appear as this description progresses;

In this speclficat'ion and the accompanythe form considered to be the best, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such form, because it may be embodied in other forms; and it is to be also understood that in and by the claims following the description it is desired to cover the invention in whatsoever form it may be embodied.

. In the accompanying one sheet of draw-v ings:

Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of an amusement device constructed in accordance with our-invention. Fig. 2 is'a plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section-taken through Fig. 2 on the line 3-3.

Fig. 4 is a plan section taken through Fig. 3 on the line 4.4. 1

In detail, the construction, illustrated in the drawings, comprises an inverted substantially' cone-shaped casing or element, generally designated by the numeral 1,.and having a rounded apex or end 2 on which it .will rotate when a spinning or turning movement has been imparted thereto. The

interior of-the casing adjacent the apex or rounded end thereof is filled withlead l or other equivalent weighty material and so ballasted that the perimetral edge 3 of V. VAN NAT- said element 1 will lie on a substantially level plane. Any well known "adhesive means may be utilized for positioning the said lead iwithi-n. the interior of the element 1. The weight in the bottom portion of the element 1 thus prevents the said element from tipping so that-when the-said casing is spun or rotated. its center of .gyration will be on a vertical axis passing concentrically through the weighted portion of the element.

A finger grip or handle 5 is secured centrally within the lead 1, said handle project'- ing above the upper rim 3 of the casing 1 in order that a good grip might be had with-. out interfering or touching the said casing. 1

A cover, comprising a rim annulus 6 and a depressed center portion 7 is adapted to be secured to the perimetral edge of the casing 1, by any well known'means, the said cover any portion of being so arranged relative to the element 1 that aspace is provided between the inte rior faces of each.

1 The covermember and easing arepreferably formed from transparent material, such as celluloid. xylonite or the like, yet, it would be clearly within the purview of this invention to form the parts out of metal, glass or any other. material. The upper face of the lead 4 has a plurality of radially extended bafiies orbarriers 8 thereon and equally spaced therearound, the spacebetween forming pockets or wedge shaped segments 9. Opposite each segment 9, symbols or other value indicating indicia 10 are arranged on the inner face of the main casing 1. The symbols 10 may be either imprinted on the wall and suitably colored, or

in some instances it has been found suitable Y to emboss thevsame in the material forming the casing.

Y A pair of balls 11 or other equivalentobby rotation ofthe assembly will cause the balls, through centrifugal action, to be thrown outwardly away and from thepock ets 9 on the. weighted base 4:. After the spinning or rotating action has subsided, the

balls roll back to the bottom ofthe casing and come to rest on one or a pair of certain of the pockets 9. Inasmuch as each division place is represented by a certain symbol of a predetermined value, it will be'ob'vious that two players may contest, one against I the other, in the obtaining of higher valued eating indicia thereon; and objects adapted to be indiscriminately arranged in said pockets by a rotative movement of said casing.

2. A device such as described comprising an inverted substantially cone-shaped casing, having a Weighted base therein for maintaining said casing in a substantially vertical position; pockets provided on said base having value indicating indicia thereon; a handle secured to the said Weighted portion; and objects adapted to be moved between the pockets by a spinning action of said casing imparted through said handle.

8. A device such as'described comprisingan inverted, substantially cone-shaped casing adapted tobe rotated on its apex; a Weight adapted to be secured in the interior of said casing in said apex for maintaining said casing in a substantially vertical position; a handle adapted to be secured to said Weight and to project concentrically relative to said casing; a plurality of pockets arranged Within the interior of said casing, having Value indicating indicia thereon; and a pair of objects adapted to be moved into and from said pockets by a rotative action of said casing imparted through said handle.

4:. A device'such as described comprising an inverted substantially cone-shaped casing adapted to be rotated on its apex; a Weight adapted to be secured in the interior of said casing in said apex for maintaining said casing in a substantially vertical position; a handle adapted to be secured to said Weight and to projectconcent-rically relative to said casing; a cover engaging the open face of said casing and spaced therefrom; a plurality of pockets arranged Within the interior. of said casing, having value indicating indiciathereon; and apair of objects adapted to be moved into and from said pockets by a rotative action of said casing imparted through said handle. Y I 5. A device such as described comprisin an inverted substantially cone-shaped cas' ing adapted to be rotated on'its apex; a Weight adapted to be secured in the interior of said casing in said apex for main taining said casing in a substantiallyqverticalposition; a handle adapted tobe secured to said Weight and to project concentrically relative to said casing';ja plurality of pockets arranged Within the in-' terior of said casing; value indicating'indicia formed integrally Within the inner face of said casing opposite each of said pockets; and a pair of objects adapted to be moved into and from said-pockets by a rotative action of said casing imparted through said handle. V

In testimony whereof, We have hereunto set our hands at SanFrancisco, California, this 5th day of April, 1922.

' VERLE V. VAN NATTAN.

JAMES M. PARIS. In presence'of- LINCOLN V. JoHNsoN. 

